Knockdown chest



H. DERMAN KNOCKDOWN CHEST Jan. 30, 1951 Filed Feb. 7, 1946 wya;

INVENTOR 22y @f/QMA/V ATTO R N EY Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates towhat is commonly referred to as a chest of the knockdown or collapsible type. More particularly, the invention deals with articles of manufacture of the class defined, wherein the chest comprises three primary parts, two of which are similar end wall sections and the third comprising a body and cover wall section. Still more particularly, the invention deals with devices of this type and kind formed from sheets of paper, corrugated board or 1-.

similar material pre-shaped and assembled in each of the sections and constructed to provide reinforced portions as and where required, so as to enable the chest to withstand heavy loads and, further, to form a seat or bench capable of holding one hundred pounds or more.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate harts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled chest made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one end portion of the chest with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank from which the end wall portions are formed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sheet from which the main body walls of the chest are formed in a partially assembled position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a top cover wall reinforcement with part of the reinforcement in section and with part shownin extended position in dot and dash lines; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the upper end of one post showing the mounting of the chest walls thereon.

Chests of the type and kind under consideration are adapted for use'in storage of articles of various types and kinds and may be practically used in the storage of playthings for children and used in a playroom. Chests of the kind under consideration have been of rather weak or flimsy construction and, as and when children have sat upon the chests, it has often been experienced that the chests have collapsed due to the weakness thereof.

It is one of the distinctive features of my invention to so reinforce the entire chest structure as to enable the chest to not only support playthings or other articles, but also be sufficiently sturdy to withstand the weight of one or two children, so that the chest can be conveniently used as a seat or bench for the children in a playroom.

The chest is constructed from two units or sections, namely a body section II) and end wall section I I, two of the latter being employed in forming end walls of the chest and, for purposes of designation, the unit or section to the right of Fig. 1 will be identified as II and the unit or section to the left, identified as H; as both of these sections or units are identical, the brief description of one will apply to both.

The body section or unit IE1 is formed from an oblong rectangular sheet of suitable material folded to form the front wall portion I2, the bottom Wall i3, back wall I4, and top or cover wall I5.

The bottom wall i3 is a trifle longer than the other walls and has its corner portions cutout, as seen at I6, to form at the ends of the bottom wall I3 projecting members ll adapted to seat upon the end wall sections, as later described.

The upper edge of the front wall I2 has an integral loldable reinforcing and stop member l8 comprising a narrow top wall portion I9 and two wall portions 20, 2|, to form of the resulting member I8, note Fig. 2, a V-shaped reinforced upper edge along the front Wall or the chest to form a strong stop and support for the top or cover I5.

The top or cover I5 comprises the single sheet, as shown in Fig. 6, to which is secured a reinforcing member 22 which comprises an elongated sheet composed of two wall parts 23 and 2e foldably united, as at 25, the parts 23 and 24 being substantially of the same general peripheral dimensions. Each of these parts have inturned side flanges, as at 23 and El, respectively, to form a finish at the ends of the resulting cover It. Foldable with the free edge of the part 24, as at 28, is a supplemental part 23 which is shown in extended position in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7 and collapsed upon the inner surface of the part 24 in full lines. The part 29 is of less length than the part 25 and fits Within the flanges 12? so as to lie flush with said flanges. The sheet forming the top wall I5, as in Fig. 6, fits within the flanges 2b and, for purposes of identification, this wall part is designated in Fig. 3 of the drawing as I5, whereas the entire top wall, including the assemblage of the member 22 on I5, will be designated by the reference character I5.

In assemblage, the part 29 is glued or otherwise secured to the part 24 and the part i5, including the flanges 26 and 2"I, are glued to the respective parts and to each other, so as to form a complete top wall portion of four ply thickness as will appear from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. It will be understood that the flanges 26 and 27, including adjacent portions of the parts 23 and 24, form extensions on the top 3 or cover wall at the ends of the resulting chest, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4 at the front edge 39 of the cover I also projects slightly beyond the front wall of-the cover toiorm a flange portion facilitating movement of the cover into open position.

Each end wall section I I, I I is formed from a. sheet similar to the blank 3|, shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, and two corner posts and leg members 32, 32.

The blank sheet 3! comprises a large rectangular central wall part 33, at'the ends of which are two narrow parts 3% and 35 foldable with respect to the part es on the lines 36 and 3'1. Beyond the part Stare two foldable parts 3-8-and-39 and, beyond the-part 35; are two foldable parts All and ii. The narrow part Shhas its ends notched, as seen-at 42; whereas the parts 38 and 39 are'na-rrower than the-part t3 and join thepart 33 in bevelled wallflaps 33 at the ends of thepart-Bfi': Theflapsflsseat upon the upper endsofthepostor leg members 32', 32 and, assuming, that the posts 32" are regarded as the front posts or leg members; on these posts are also'adapted to seat similarflaps it, formed at the ends of the p'artlt inthe manner'illustrated inFig. 8*ofthe drawing; Asboth' posts 32, 32"

are" of the same construction; the brief description of'on'e will applyto-theother: Each of these posts is rectangularincross sectional form and haveorr two surfacesthereof longitudinal grooves, as at" :35 and lt. These grooves extend the full length ofthe' posts or leg'memb'ers 32; 32' and the" grooves 35"are adapted to" receive-the end ed'gesof' the wall I2 in'one' instance and corresponding edges of thewall' I i in the other instance; whereas" the grooves l3 are adapted to receive theside edges of the wall part 331 The w'a'llpart'sBB' ar'e'pre-coupled with the posts or leg members 42, 42*"by' large he'adednail's or other fasteners l'l, whereassiinilar fasteners Q?" are utilized in detachably coupling the end sections or frames I II I of the chest with the bod'ysection" Iili In this connection, it is preferred that thepostsszj 32"b'e pie-drilled" with holes to l receivethe' fasteners 41'', so that'these fasteners may be properly" positioned and, further, t'o'simpnry the assemblage in setting up .the'chest for use: Th'epartsES' and 39, which are atth'e upper ends of'the wall'parts 3'3, are'fol'ded downwardly and; then, upwardlyupon inner surfaces of the w'a'llpart's 3'3 and are secured theretoby staples or other devices, as' at 481 to form reinforcing members'ds" at the upper ends of the wall 33 intermediate the posts 32; 32"'and similar to the members I3; so that along thefront and side walls of the resulting chest strong supports are providedfor the top or cover I 5'; It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing thatthe' member I'S'is also secured to the front wall I2 by staples or other devices 50', similar to'the' devices 48, the devices Ell being spaced longitudinallyofthe front wall and. two or three thereof will be suhicient to hold the member I8 in position.

The notched-but portions 52 of the part 35 are adapted to receive the corner portions of the posts as the part35 is extended inwardly at right angles to the wall 33 to form a stopor ledge for supporting theprojecting ends I? of the bottom wall I3, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This latter support is further reinforced by the parts 40, AI whichare folded upon themselves and are both at right angles to-the part 3 3, the folded parts at, H have end portions 5-I' which overlie i the inner surfaces of the posts 32, 32 and are secured thereto by headed nails or other fasteners 52, note Fig. 2 of the drawing. The parts id and iI materially reinforce and strengthen the end walls and form additional'braces and supports for the end walls and a means for directly taking up the load upon the bottom wall I3 of the chest, as will be apparent. The parts it, 35' collectively are of a length equal to the downwardly extending leg ends of the posts 32, 32. The resulting construction forms a bottom wall in the chest which is raised above the fioor or other supporting surface as will clearly appear from a consideration of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the parts se, SI also form closures at the ends of the chest;

In production of knockdown chests of the-kind under consideration, the main body part II]; including the member 22 glued or otherwise permanently attached to the wall part I5, constitutes one part or section of the chest structure and the other two parts comprise the assembled end sections I-I I land by assemblage is meant the wall part 33' assembled in the post or leg members 32, 32. It will thus be apparent that the wall parts of the section It, in a flat condition or relationship with the sections H, II arranged thereon, will form a relatively thin package, the end sections laid end to end being preferably of a length equal to the length of the top wall I5. The resulting package would be of a length equal to the length of the top wall part I5 and of a combined thickness of" the folded walls" with the-end sections l I, II thereon. This compact packaging facilitates storage; as well as shipment and handling of' the chest and the purchaser can quicklyand easilymake the complete assemblage by'simply placing the end edges of the walls I2- and I iin the grooves and with the extensions l l'upon the supports 35 and, then, by placing the nails or fasteners ll in position, being certain to hold the end sections, one at a time, insnug engagement with the ends of the walls I2 and I l; It willalso be apparent that the flaps-43' and 5-4, fitting upon the upper ends ofthe posts; also aidin the support of articles placed in the-chest and, at the same time, forma neat and finished surface and a relatively wide flat covensupport forthe cover I5, the hinge of 'which is formed bythefold, as" at 53;

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1-. A knockdown chest comprising a body sec tion and two similar endwall sections, said body section comprising foldably related front, back, bottom and top wall parts; said end sections each comprising a pair of corner posts joined and spaced solely by awall portion, saidwvall portion having, at upper and lower ends thereof, inwardly extending reinforci-ngmeinbers formed integral therewith, the front wall of the body section having, at its upper edge, an integral reinforcing member, said-member; in combination with the upper reinforcing members of the; end wall sections, forming a-support forthetop or cover part of the resulting chest, the cornerposts extending below the bottom wall of the assembled chest and said bottom wall having end extensions seating upon the inwardly ex tending bottom reinforcements of said end walls.

2-. A knockdown chest comprising a bodysec tion and two similar endwal-lsections, saidbody sectioncomprisingfoldably' related front; back,

bottom and top wall parts, said end sections each comprising a pair of cornerposts joined and spaced solely by a wall portion, said wall portion having, at upper and lower ends thereof, inwardly extending reinforcing members formed integral therewith, the front wall of the body section having, at its upper edge, an integral reinforcing member, said member, in combination with the upper reinforcing members of the end wall sections, forming a support for the top or cover part of the resulting chest, the corner posts extending below the bottom wall of the assembled chest, said bottom wall having end extensions seating upon the inwardly extending bottom reinforcements of said end walls, the corner posts of the end wall sections having the wall part therewith secured to said posts, the posts having grooves receiving end edges of the front and back walls of the chest, and fastener devices for securing the front and back walls to said posts.

3. A knockdown chest comprising a body section and two similar end wall sections, said body section comprising foldably related front, back, bottom and top wall parts, said end sections each comprising a pair of corner posts joined and spaced solely by a wall portion, said wall portion having, at upper and lower ends thereof, inwardly extending reinforcing members formed integral therewith, the front wall of the body section having, at its upper edge, an integral reinforcing member, said member, in combina tion with the upper reinforcing members of the end wall sections, forming a support for the top or cover part of the resulting chest, the corner posts extending below the bottom wall of the assembled chest, said bottom wall having end extensions seating upon the inwardly extending bottom reinforcements of said end walls, the corner posts of the end wall sections having the wall part therewith secured to said posts, the posts having grooves receiving end edges of the front and back walls of the chest, fastener devices for securing the front and back walls to said posts, and a supplemental top wall part secured to and reinforcing the top wall and forming a four ply thickness throughout the major portion of said top wall.

4. A knockdown chest comprising a body section and two similar end wall sections, said body section comprising foldably related front, back, bottom and top wall parts, said end sections each comprising a pair of corner posts joined and spaced solely by a wall portion, said wall portion'having, at upper and lower ends thereof, inwardly extending reinforcing members formed integral therewith, the front wall of the body section having, at its upper edge, an integral reinforcing member, said member, in combination with the upper reinforcing members of the end wall sections, forming a support for the top or cover part of the resulting chest, the corner posts extending below the bottom wall of the assembled chest,-said bottom wall having end extensions seating upon the inwardly extending bottom reinforcements of said end walls, the corner posts of the end wall sections having the wall parts therewith secured to said posts, the posts having grooves receiving end edges of the front and back walls of the chest, fastener devices for securing the front and back walls to said posts, a supplemental top wall part secured to and reinforcing the top wall and forming a four ply thickness throughout the major portion of said top wall, and the reinforcing members 6 at upper ends of the front and end walls having parts seating upon the upper ends of the corner posts.

5. In a knockdown chest comprising a body section and end sections detachable with respect to the body section, said body section comprising front, back and bottom walls and a hinge cover M wall, each end section comprising corner posts joined and spaced by a wall portion, the lower end of the wall portion having inwardly, downwardly and upwardly arranged integral parts forming an inwardly directed shoulder upon the inner surface of the end wall part intermediate the corner posts, and the shoulders of the end wall sections forming supports for the ends of the bottom wall of the body section supporting said wall above the lower ends of said corner posts.

6. In a knockdown chest comprising a body section and end sections detachable with respect to the body section, said body section comprising front, back and bottom walls and a hinge cover wall, each end section comprising corner posts joined and spaced by a wall portion, the lower end of the wall portion having inwardly, downwardly and upwardly arranged integral parts forming an inwardly directed shoulder upon the inner surface of the end wall part intermediate the corner posts, the shoulders of the end wall sections forming supports for the ends of the bottom wall of the body section supporting said wall above the lower ends of said corner posts, and said end wall sections having integral substantially triangularly-shaped reinforcing members extending the full length of the upper edges thereof intermediate the corner posts.

'7. In a knockdown chest comprising a body section and end sections detachable with respect to the body section, said body section comprising front, back and bottom walls and a hinge cover wall, each end section comprising corner posts joined and spaced by a wall portion, the lower end of the wall portion having inwardly, downwardly and upwardly arranged integral parts forming an inwardly directed shoulder upon the inner surface of the end wall part intermediate the corner posts, the shoulders of the end wall sections forming supports for the ends of the bottom wall of the body section supporting said wall above the lower ends of said corner posts, said end wall sections having integral substantially triangularly-shaped reinforcing members extending the full length of the upper edges thereof intermediate the corner posts, and said members including parts extending onto upper edges of the posts.

8. In a knockdown chest comprising a body section and end sections detachable with respect to the body section, said body section comprising front, back and bottom walls and a hinge cover wall, each end section comprising corner posts joined and spaced by a wall portion, the lower end of the wall portion having inwardly, downwardly and upwardly arranged integral parts forming an inwardly directed shoulder upon the vxiiraces hers including .parts extending onto upper edges of the posts, and the front wall of the chest having a corresponding reinforcing member at the upper edge thereof intermediate posts of said end wall sections. v

'9. A chest'of the class described comprising front, bottom,.back and end walls and a top hinged cover wall, corner posts at the four corners of the chest, said posts havinggrooves to receive the edges of the "front, back and end walls in joining said walls, said posts being of a height greater than the depth of the front and back walls of the chest, the end walls having inwardly set integral reinforcing portions throughout the length of the lower ends thereof extending said walls to a depth corresponding to that .of said posts, and said inwardly set reinforcing portions forming supports for the bottom'wall of the chest.

10. In knockdown chests composed of sheet mamrial, said chest having integral foldably related front, back and bottom walls and detachable :end walls, corner posts reinforcingiand joiningvfront and back walls with said end walls, said posts extending to form leg members for the chest, means formed integral with upper 'edge portions of the front and end walls to widen and reinforce said edges, means comprising ,substantially.tri angular' portions of the material of said walls, each tri-angular portions compris- .ing apart-extending inwardly'atrright angles to the upper endiof thewall, apartextendingdownwardly and :outwardly at an angle to said well,

- a :part extending upwardly ion the inner asurfa'ce ,of' said :wall, means integral with the end walls for reinforcing lowerportions thereof, said last named means comprising an inwardly extending parteand downwardly and'upwardly extending parts arranged one npontheother and set inwardly withurespect tosaid end walls, and vsaid lastnamedmeansforming supports for end portions of the bottom Wall of the :chest at a point raised with respect to thef'lower .ends of said leg members.

.I-IARRY DERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fil-e of this patent: 

